UMaine sports teams compile 3.04 GPA, fifth in America East

June 14, 2012 5:38 pmUpdated: June 14, 2012 5:40 pm

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The University of Maine was one of seven America East schools to post a 3.00 cumulative grade point average for the 2011-2012 year, it was announced during the league’s annual meeting Wednesday night.

The Black Bears finished the year with a 3.04 grade point average.

The Hartford Hawks won the 2011-2012 America East Academic Cup with a GPA of 3.16. Vermont was second with a 3.15, while New Hampshire recorded a 3.14, followed by Binghamton (3.11), Maine, Boston University (3.03), University of Maryland Baltimore County (3.00), Stony Brook (2.98) and Albany (2.93).

The Academic Cup, established in 1995, is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest GPAs during the academic year. In all, 72 percent of the league’s teams (108-of-149), 10 more than 2010-2011, had GPAs of 3.0 or better.

The league’s 3,400-plus student-athletes compiled a 3.06 average during the 2011-2012 season, just one one-hundredth off last year’s record high.

“The America East Conference and its institutions continue to consistently perform at a high level in the classroom, which is a real strength across this league,” said Commissioner Amy Huchthausen.

The University of Maine men’s cross country team and the Black Bear women’s soccer team led each of their respective sports in overall team GPA. The men’s cross country team finished with a 3.29, while the women’s soccer team posted a 3.42.

The Black Bears have twice won the America East Academic Cup. Maine won the 2004 Academic Cup and were named co-champions in 2007.

UM’s McFetters to compete in national meet

University of Maine women’s track and field standout Robyn McFetters of Barrington, R.I., will compete in the prestigious USA National Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday in Bloomington, Ind.

McFetters, who just completed her freshman season at Maine, will be competing in the hammer throw, an event that she won at the America East Championships in May. She also holds the school record. She competed at the NCAA East Preliminary Round last month.

Should McFetters place among the top three and have a World Championship qualifying throw, she will compete for the USA Junior Team at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona July 10-15.

NCAA honors two UMaine teams

The University of Maine men’s and women’s cross country teams were two of 954 NCAA Division I sports teams honored by the NCAA on Thursday for earning Public Recognition Awards, based on their most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rate.

These awards are given each year to teams with APRs in the top 10 percent in each sport.

The men’s cross country team was honored for the second straight year, while the women’s squad has received honors seven years in a row.

The 954 teams publicly recognized this year for high achievement represent 560 women’s teams and 394 men’s or mixed squads.

Seven America East schools were honored for their APR scores, with 25 different teams honored. There were five America East men’s cross country teams honored, while UMBC joined the Black Bears as the lone other America East women’s cross country team to receive recognition.